Thursday, 5 March 2026

From Barks: More Underhive denizens (30 points)

My painting time has really stalled out this Challenge, but I forced myself to get some figures done. These are a variety of beings you may find in the Underhive.

The malstrain is a corrupted genestealer. I slightly trimmed back and toned down the excess spikes of the original sculpt, as I thought they were a bit much even for me. I've got more of these to paint but its a slow fiddly process. He's a big boy on a 40mm base. I've gone for a severe cataract eye. The pustules remind me of the original plastic 'stealers.


With an untrimmed figure

Next, I have some winged figures- two caryatids and a cherub. Caryatids are nearly mythical figures to underhivers, and are associated with good luck. The smaller metal figure is a very limited sculpt associated with Colony 87- read more here. He's on a 20mm base, and is definitely a 'he'.




This cherub had a goatee and hair
but I trimmed it back to be more Churchillian.

Somewhere in this medic servoskull is a skull!


I really like this underseer sculpt. It nails the bizarre bodies and mechadendrites of the tech-priests.




Postscript: I was bullied/peer-pressured into painting some patches onto flight suits and trying to get a mirrorshades effect onto Ferro's aviators. Are you happy now?


Six figures of varying sizes... 25 points?
+1 skull for the skull challenge (total 45)


From Millsy:

Any submission that makes use of the term "denizen" is a winner in my books! These are all superb mate but I am particularly impressed and at the same time a bit disturbed by the underseer. I have little idea what mechadendrites are but I suspect I'm better off that way.

Kudos for your efforts on the mirrrorshades and patches. I've awarded a bonus five points because I resist every temptation to revisit something so if you can be bothered it should pay off.

Cracking stuff Barks. 30 more underhive credits for you.

Cheers,
Millsy

18 comments:

  1. Wow Barks these models are great! I love Ad Mech stuff and this is awesome, the genestealer, cherubs and pilots could all fit nicely in my cabinets too. Fantastic work!

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    1. I'm a bit of a minor squirrel jumping from figure to figure.

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  2. Lovely brushwork as usual Barks, good work on the rheumy eye and weird cherub

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  3. Wonderfully disgusting denizens Barks. Local Aussie fauna?

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  4. Well they are nicely weird! Cool aviators

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  5. Tremendous brushwork Barks, well done.

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  6. A lovely set, the Malstrain’s flesh is wonderfully translucent. I think the decision to trim the spikes was a good one.

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    1. It's actually been a while since I've painted a 'stealer; I had to reinvent the look I was going for.

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  7. Stunning painting and marvellous monsters

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  8. I thought the first picture was superb - until I kept scrolling and saw more and more greatness

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    1. I've quite enjoyed the little backdrops to help sell the figures.

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